Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

21 September 2026

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Australian Parliament

12:30 - 14:08
Speaker 1
All right.  Excellent.  Right. 

I declare open this public hearing of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee inquiry into the Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2023.  I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay our respects to their elders past and present, and I extend that respect to all the countries in which we have witnesses joining us today and also those joining us from Canberra as well.  The committee will be conducting today's hearing in person and via videoconference.  These are public proceedings being video streamed live via the Parliament's website and a Hansard transcript is also being made.  I remind witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. 

It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee and such action may be treated by the Senate as a contempt. 

It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence to a committee.  The committee prefers evidence to be given in public, but under the Senate's resolutions, witnesses have the right to request to be heard in confidence, described as being heard in camera.  If you are a witness today and intend to request to give evidence in camera, please bring it to the attention of the secretariat as soon as you are able to.  If a witness objects to answering a question, the witness should state the ground upon which the objection is taken and the committee will determine whether it will insist on an answer.  Good morning. 

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